Seaman's Memorial Tower

Seaman's Memorial Tower bronsonhamilton (Atlas Obscura User)

The Seaman’s Memorial is an 80-foot tower that stands at the entrance to Conn Brown Harbor, where many sport and commercial fishers launch to comb the bays and estuaries along the South Texas coast. The tower was dedicated on May 9, 1970, and is an ongoing tribute to locals who were lost or died at sea.

A plaque honoring six Coast Guard airmen, who perished when a flare was accidentally fired inside their aircraft, can be found on the memorial’s walls. A hand-hewn crucifix made from driftwood hangs above the entrance to the shrine and stained glass adorns a small window on the back wall.

The shrine offers a place for quiet reflection in the midst of a bustling boat launch site that is surrounded by bait stands and seafood restaurants.

Know Before You Go

Conn Brown Harbor can get busy with various boat launches, but there is usually parking around the memorial. It's a short walk to the bait stands and restaurants. There is also a public fishing pier. The site offers good views of the Intracoastal waterway. The ferry to Port Aransas is just a few miles down Highway 361.